Ivp Ntc: Revelation (Ivp New Testament Commentary Series)

-- A passage-by-passage exposition that focuses on the relevance of Revelation for Christians today..^- Based on the NIV, includes background information and discussion of critical issues..^- Notes on exegetical issues separated from textual commentary.^Views of the Book of "Revelation" Abound. Some think it describes events in John's own time. Others see it as a prophetic survey of the history of the church. Still others view the book as a precise prediction of unfolding events at the yet-to-come end of the world. The trouble is that these views make the Revelation of John irrelevant to Christians throughout much of history.^Michaels strives to recapture Revelation as a prophetic letter of testimony, a testimony as relevant to the church today as it was in John's day. This stimulating, pastorally oriented commentary provides an introduction with background material concerning authorship, date and purpose, as well as a summary of important theological themes. Passage-by-passage exposition focuses on what John had to say to his original readers in order to see the relevance of his book for the church today.
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Interpretations of the book of Revelation are numerous and varied. The preterist view focuses on first-century social analysis of John's environment. The church-historical view sees the Revelation as a prophetic survey of the history of the church. The futurist view sees the book as a precise prediction of unfolding events in the yet-to-come end of the world.The trouble with all three, argues J. Ramsey Michaels, is that they make the Revelation of John irrelevant to Christians throughout much of history. Failing to take seriously what John saw, such interpreters do not comprehend the value of the Revelation to Christians in any age. Michaels strives to recapture the Revelation as a prophetic letter of testimony, a testimony as relevant to today's church as it was to John's as it faces evil and looks for the victory of the Lamb.
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